Key.



PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908. 0. KATZENBBRGER.

1 KEY.

. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 22. 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnrcn KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed December 22. 1906. Serial No. 349,023.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR KATZENBERGER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and K State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in Keys, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification.

The invention relates to improvements in keys of that description whichare used in operating locks of that class in which the bolt-actuatingmechanism is guarded by wards.

It has for its object the provision of a device which, by a slightvariation in construction, can be produced in great numbers all of whichwill be different so that no two keys will be alike to such an extent asto open the same lock.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claim,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key embodyingthe invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig.3 is a cross sectional view.

The key comprises the bow a, which may be of any construction suitablein the premises, and the shank b. The main part c of the shank iscylindrical in form and has in its entering end the pivot bearing d.Extending longitudinally of the shank parallel to its axis of rotationand placed at intervals around the same are the bits 6 separated by theintervening recesses f. The bits and. intervening recesses are all ofdifferent shapes and dimensions and are irregularly disposed around theshank. The bits and intervening recesses are formed by cutting into thecylindrical shank to extend along its length longitudinal grooves ofirregular cross-sections. By varying the shape, size, relative positionsand number of the bits and recesses a great many different combinationscan be ob tained so that a great variety of keys can be produced whichcan be used to operate a corresponding variety of locks. Also, by theforegoing construction the keys can be manufactured at a comparativelylow cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is, i

As an improved article of manufacture a key provided with a cylindricalshank having grooves extending along its length of irregularcross-sections forming bits and intervening recesses of different shapesand dimensions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. OSCAR KATZENBERGER. WVitnessesz,

EDWARD HOMER ELMENDORF, SUE AOKLIN PEAoooK.

